Passed peacefully November 29, 2012, in Newmarket, with family present. Special thanks to the staff of the Palliative Care Unit of the Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket. Born in Pynacker, Holland, August 7, 1924, served as an officer in the Royal Dutch Navy, and he was predeceased by three wives, first, Rudi Haayen (married 1947-1972), mother of Emmy Gilliland, Antoine deGidts and the late Inge Whitehouse, and later Hasje Verspyck (married 1973-2000), and thirdly Yvonne Van Hoey-Smith (married 2003-2008). His family includes 8 grandchildren, 12 great- grandchildren, the latter being the 14th generation going back in a straight line to a Cornelius Johannes deGidts who lived in the village of Rumpt in central Holland in the year 1625.